Esemplario di Lauori..., page 13 (verso)

Art Historical Context

Step into the intricate world of Renaissance ornamentation with *Esemplario di Lauori... page 13 (verso), a woodcut print from 1532 by Venetian brothers Florio and Giovanni Andrea Vavass. Published in Venice on August 1, this page is part of a rare *esemplario*—a pattern book designed for artisans, offering repeatable motifs for crafts like textiles, metalwork, and architecture. Measuring just 8 7/16 x 6 5/16 inches, its compact size made it a portable treasure for workshops across Europe. Woodcuts like this were revolutionary in the 16th century, allowing mass production of detailed designs through carved wooden blocks inked and pressed onto paper. The Vavassores, prominent printer-publishers, excelled in these bold, black-line illustrations that captured scrolling vines, geometric interlacing, and fantastical motifs—hallmarks of Venetian Renaissance decorative arts. Such books democratized high-style ornament, influencing goldsmiths, weavers, and builders from Italy to Northern Europe. Housed in the Metropolitan Museum of Art's Drawings and Prints department (acquired via Rogers Fund, 1918), this page exemplifies how print technology fueled the Renaissance's visual culture, bridging art and everyday craftsmanship with timeless elegance.

About the Artist

Florio Vavassore|Giovanni Andrea Vavassore (Italian|Italian) · 1530 |0016 –1573 |0016

Italian, active Venice 1530–1573|Italian, active 16th century